Taliban Deputy PM Calls for Non-Interference From Foreign States During China Visit

Her husband, Sayed Mohsen Hashemi, told Afghanistan International that he has received no information about her whereabouts despite continuous efforts to locate her. “Zulala left home to visit friends and never returned. Her phone has been switched off, and all attempts to contact her have failed,” he said in a video message on Thursday, 19 June.

Zulala Hashemi gained national recognition after competing in the first round of Afghan Star, a popular singing competition formerly broadcast by TOLO TV. Her success on the show was seen as a significant achievement, especially for a female artist in a male-dominated space.

Hashemi said that his search for his wife has so far been fruitless, and he is beginning to lose hope. Zulala is the mother of a four-year-old son, whose health, the family says, has worsened since her disappearance.

Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the case.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Hekmatyar praised Syria’s stance following Israel’s attack on Iran, describing it as “wise and prudent.” He commended Syrian leadership, particularly Ahmad al-Sharaa, for firmly stating that Damascus would not permit its airspace or territory to be used against Iran.

Hekmatyar has previously warned that if Israel defeats Iran, it may expand its military campaign to other nations, including Pakistan, Türkiye, and Syria.

He called on regional countries to put aside historical grievances and unite against what he described as a “great external enemy.” He urged governments in the region to act with strength, avoid retaliation among themselves, and prioritise collective interests.

Hekmatyar also launched a scathing verbal attack on Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last Shah, accusing him of encouraging the US and Israel to destroy Iran, massacre its population, and even consider nuclear strikes on Tehran.

He concluded his remarks by claiming that signs of America’s internal decline are already visible, particularly in states like California, which he alleged is home to growing separatist movements.

Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal said the discussions centred on both the immediate and long-term consequences of the war, including its economic impact on the region.

The meeting, organised by the Strategic Studies Centre of the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, was attended by several senior officials. According to Takal, the group evaluated various scenarios stemming from the conflict and how they might influence Afghanistan’s security, economy and diplomatic positioning.

Separately, credible sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban’s intelligence agency convened a confidential meeting to analyse the possible collapse of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Intelligence officials reportedly view the emergence of a democratic government in Iran as a potential threat to the Taliban’s ideological and strategic interests.

On Thursday, local farmers and community members reportedly took up arms in response to a counter-narcotics operation by the Taliban. Protesters clashed with Taliban forces and set fire to at least three tractors used to destroy the crops.

Videos received by Afghanistan International show multiple tractors engulfed in flames. Sources said the machinery had been sent by the Taliban’s counter-narcotics directorate as part of a broader effort to eliminate opium cultivation in the region.

According to witnesses, Taliban forces opened fire on protesters, though no casualties have yet been confirmed. Following the confrontation, Taliban helicopters were seen patrolling the skies over Khash and neighbouring Jurm districts.

Taliban officials in Badakhshan have not issued a statement regarding the incident.

A similar clash occurred on 24 May in Farghamanch village, Jurm district, where at least one civilian was killed during a protest against poppy field destruction. Last year, Taliban eradication efforts in the province also met resistance from local communities.

The remarks were made during a meeting on Thursday, 19 June, with Per Albert Ilsaas, Norway’s chargé d’affaires to Afghanistan, according to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Muttaqi and the Norwegian diplomat discussed regional developments and bilateral ties. He welcomed Norway’s acceptance of a Taliban-appointed diplomat, describing it as “a positive step toward strengthening relations and building trust.”

Norway’s chargé d’affaires reportedly said that a Norwegian delegation will soon visit Kabul to assess the country’s ongoing engagement with the Taliban authorities.

Norway is one of the few European countries to have established working relations with the Taliban, despite not formally recognising the group as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Najibullah Sherkhan, a Taliban appointee, was recently accepted as First Secretary at the Afghan Embassy in Norway, a move that drew criticism from European civil society activists and women’s rights groups.

In January 2022, Norway became the first European nation to host a high-level Taliban delegation in Oslo. However, its Foreign Ministry later announced it would reduce engagement due to the Taliban’s continued restrictions on women’s rights.